The Aquarium of the Bay, one of San Francisco's most visited tourist attractions, has been purchased by a non-profit research and educational organization located in Novato, California. The Bay Institute has led conservation and research efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area for the last 28 years and is excited to form a partnership with the well known aquarium. The Aquarium of the Bay will become a non-profit center dedicated to educating the community and studying the local watershed in the greater Bay Area.
This partnership has been culminating for the last 13 years as efforts to keep the popular city attraction open have become increasingly challenging. The idea to turn the aquarium into a non-profit by partnering with The Bay Institute was first broached in 2005. At that time The Bay Institute didn't have the capital to purchase the aquarium so a private San Francisco businessman stepped in and bought the Aquarium of the Bay with the agreement set in place that The Bay Institute would purchase the facility from Anderson for a predetermined price once the money was raised.
Now that the Aquarium of the Bay and The Bay Institute have become partners, the future of the aquarium is more secure. The aquarium will become the hub for education and research by increasing the number of students who participate in their education program from 14,000 to 40,000 in the next year. The aquarium will also host lectures, workshops and classes about pollution, conservation and sustainability. For more information about the Aquarium of the Bay please visit their website at www.aquariumofthebay.com.
